GUEST BLOG: Pat O’Dea – Looters

Communities  in flood ravaged zones are having their food and generators taken by looters. There are looters and then there are looters.

Government goes into bat for the big looters.

Government bows to mining industry and developers and weakens protections for wetlands

Andrea Vance, Stuff.co.nz, Feb 20 2023

“Wetlands reduce the impacts of flooding, absorbing heavy rain and releasing water gradually.

So, environmental lawyers are questioning why the Government recently rowed back protection for these valuable natural buffers to appease property developers and the mining and quarrying sectors….”

I don’t think there needs to be a government inquiry or any sort of enquiry

Forestry Minister Stewart Nash, RNZ, Jan 16 2023

…this is probably just further clear out of historical harvesting slash…..

….after 2018 a whole lot of solutions were put in place and it is my very clear understanding that forestry companies have followed those to the letter….

…It is my understanding the forestry companies all complied with everything that they were supposed to do….

In weather events like this you are going to get trees coming down, whether they’re natives, , whether their full trees and hopefully not harvesting slash….

… that is historical cleanout, I’m not saying that is good, all I’m saying is that since 2018 forestry companies have modified their harvesting practices, certainly their clean up practices….

Pat O’Dea is a trade unionist and human rights activist.